Refrigerating apparatus



Feb; 12, 1929. 1,701,753 J. c. IGOOSMANN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v Ink/ZZZ) 0%292636) hail/ 6 Gamma/m Patented Feb. 12, 1929;.

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.-

' I ausrus c. Goosnnm, or CHICAGO, ILL INoIs.

' REFRIGERATIHG APPARATUS.

Application filed February 12, 1928. Serial No. 818,454.

. This invention relates generally to refrigerating apparatus, and while shown, for

illustrative purposes, as embodied in an ap-,

paratus of the compression type, the-principles thereof may also be employed, if desired, in systems of the absorption type;

Refrigerating apparatus of either type have an expansion valve interposed in' the line leading from the condenser to the evaporator, by which the flow of the'refrigerating medium to the expansion coils is controlled. Customarily these valves have a fixed opening through which the refrigerating medlum is permittedto pass to the evaporator in regulated quantities. The effective area of this opening is ordinarily controlled by a hand adjustable needle valve,'which, when once set, permits a substantially constant flow of refrigerating medium, irrespective of the load or temperature conditions in the cold ence of the presure in the evaporator coils.

' Such valves are capable of maintaining a sub-.

stantially uniform pressure in the expansion coils, and are reasonably satisfactory when the load upon the system is also substantially uniform; when, however, the. load varies within considerable limits, the operation of a system equipped with such a valve is inefliclent and unsatisfactory, for the vfollowing reasons. If the temperature in the cold storage room is low and the-load upon the system is consequently light, the liquid refrigerating medium in the expansion coils'will be evaporated very slowly, the pressure in. these coils will consequently be low, and since a low pressure tends to further open the expansion valve,- more liquid refrigerating medium will be continuall delivered into the expansion coils, with t e result that the coils be come heavily loaded with liquid, which is not required. This loading is objectionable for two reasons: first, there is grave danger of the liquid itself being drawn in a liquid state into the compressor, with resultant injuries" to the compressor and second,in case of accident the sudden release of this large amount ,ofrefrigeratlng medium in liquid condition constitutes a dangerous menace to life and property.

v ()n the other hand, assuming that the expansion coils contain a normal amount of liqu d refrigerating medium and a heavy load a is suddenly imposed on the s stem/this liquid will be rapidly evaporated iii the coils, with a resultant increase in pressure therein, which, I acting upon the expansion valve, tends to close the same and. reduce the flow of refrigv erating'medium to the coils at a time when an increased flow 1s required,

It should be manifest, therefore, that' in which the .flow to the expansion coils is controlled by the evaporator pressure can pro vduce satisfactory and eflicient refrigeration under largely varying load conditions.

One of the primary pur oses of my present invention is to provi e a refrigerating apparatus which will be capable of satisfac tory and efficient operation under widely and rapidly varying load conditions, andwill be adapted to increase the flow of refrigerating medium to the expansion coils as the refrigerating load on these coils is increased, and also to automatically decrease the flow as the neither a constant flow system nor 'a system refrigerating load on the coils diminishes.

With these; ends in view, my invention contemplates an apparatus in which the flow 'of refrigerating medium to the expansion coils is controlled'solely by the condenser pressure,

and since the condenser pressure risesor falls proportionately as the load on the expansioncoils increases or diminishes, the apparatus automatically regulates itself to meet the requirements imposed by the varying load conditions.

Another purpose of this invention is to bal-' ance or govern the apparatus by automatically regulating and controlling the condenser pressures so as to maintain these pressures within.

predetermined reasonable limits. This result is accomplished by -automatically controlling the flow of the condlnsingwater so that such flow is increased or diminished as the condenser tem erature, and onsequently pressure, rises or alls, respectively.

Another object of this invention is to obiviate injuries to the apparatus and the dangers resulting therefrom, which might occur if the temperature and pressures in the apparatus ran too high. This result is accomplished by means ofan automatic pressure in the storage chamber reaches a predeter- 10 mined minimum, and may be automatically started when said temperature rises above such minimum. I

Other objects and advantages of this invention should be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following description, when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawing? - ferring to the drawings: Y

F ig. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, and somewhat diagrammatic, of a re-. frigerating apparatus embodying my inven- I tion;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the condensing water control valve;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the expansion valve; and 1 Fig. 4 is a similar view of the pressure controlled switch mechanism. I

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, reference character 5 indicates generally the compressor, which ma be of any preferred construction and by an electric motor 6. The condenser 7, which may be of any preferred type, receives the refrigerating medium delivered by the compressor through a pipe line 8. The medium condensed in the condenser is delivered through a pipe 9 into a collector or accumulator 11, preferably provided with a pressure gauge 12, and from this collector the liquid medium is delivered through a pipe 13 to the expansion coils 14, located in the refrigerating chamber 15. From these coils the evaporated medium is returned to the compressor throu h ipe line 16. The elements thus far descri ed may be of any well known or preferred construction.

' In the pipe line 13, leading from the condenser to the evaporator coils, there is interposed an ex ansion valve 17, the detailed construction 0 which is best shown in Fig. 3. As therein illustrated, the valve comprises a casin cham era 19 and 21, respectively, separated by a partition wall equipped with avalve seat 22,, A valve 23, adapted to close against this seat, is carried by a stem 24 having its upper end connected in a guide block 25, slidably disposed in a bore 26 in the casing and 'e nipped with circumferential pack rings 27.

is guideblockisnormallyurged downwardly by an ex ansion spring 28, interposed between the b ocir and a screw plug 29, closing the upper end of the here 26. The lower end riven preferably 18, providing intake and discharge.

of the valve stem is connected to a block 31 disposed above a diaphragm 32, having its circumferential margins clamped between the body and the bottom wall 33 of the casing,-

valve may be regulated by manipulation of the adjusting hand wheel 41 by which the tension upon the spring 38 is varied. The liquid refrigerating medium under pressure from the condenser is delivered into the chamber 19 through the nipple 42, and after passing through the valve casing is discharged therefrlzo'm to the expansion coils through the nipe 43. p The valve 23 is normally maintained in closed position by the spring 38 until the ressure of the refrigerating medium in the chamber 19 becomes sufiicientlyhighto depress the diaphragm 82, whereupon the valve 23 is withdrawn from its seat by the downward movement of the diaphragm. The extent of opening of the valve will obviously be dependent upon the degree of pressure exerted upon the diaphragm, and consequently more or less refrigerating medium will be permitted to pass through the expansion valve as the condenser pressure rises or falls. To obviate accidental stoppage of the expansion valve opening by flakes from the iron pipe, particles of dirt, or other solid matter, a screen 44 is preferably disposed in the chamber19 so that all refrigerating medium passing the valve must flow through this screen.

The refrigerating medium delivered to the condenser by the compressor is cooled and condensed by condensing water delivered by a pipe 45 connected with any suitable source of water supply. After passing through the condenser, the water is discharged through a control valve 47, the details of which are shown in Fig. 2, from which it will be observed that the valve comprises a casing 48 provided with a seat 43 against which a valve 51, carried by a stem 52, is adapted to close. The upper end of this stem is carried by a uiding piston 53, to the lower face of which is hermetically attached a hollow expansible and contractible member 54, hermeticall' attached at its lower end to a rim or dis 55, clampedagainst a shoulder of t e valve casing by the casing cap 56. This member 54 forms a seal which, without the employment valve casing, which is screw threaded to the The valve is normally urged toward its seat by'an expansion spring 57 disposed above the iston '53 and between'thispiston and a memr 58, the. position of which may be adjusted by manipulationf of a hand wheel 59 'to thereby regulate the ten'sion of the spring 57. y

In the lower cylindrical portion 61 of the main portion 48, there is mounted :5 thermostatic element 62 of the expansible and'com tractible t pe, filled with a fluid having a relatively igh coeflicient of expansion, and the upper end of this member is connected with the valve stem 52 as shown, so that elona g'ation of this member serves to elevate the valve. 51 from its seat. A byass port 63 is ter, I have interposed m t :ap aratus.

7 control provided around the valve, t rough which water flowing from the condenser asses when valve 51 is closed, to thereb '-i uence the thermostatic element 62 and e ect the initial opening of the valve 51 when the temperature of the water begins to rise. If the water flowing from the condenser is of a temperature below that for which the valve is adfasted, the valve will remain closed, thereby plurpose o'f removin the surplus heat units cm the refrigerating medium. The valve isso proportioned that the temperature, and consequently the pressure, in t e condenser will be restrained within reasonable limits so as to balance or control the operation of the.

systemasawhole.

r The motor 6, which drives the compressor, receives its current through'a' startin and control box mechanism 64, the details of which are well known and need not be here described. In order to prevent the occurrence of excessively high temperatures andpressures in the apparatus, such as would result from'failure of the supply of condensing wae condensing water supply pipe 45 a ressure actuated switch condensing; water supply, automatically breaks the circuit to the'motor and stops the 's device is shown detail in Fig. 4,

froniwhiclt it will be observed that within a casing66 there is dis sed a hollow expansible and 'contractible cl element 54;,

men't 67 similartothe with the pressure in the condensing water evice 65, w ich,-upon failure of the reviously described, the into-4 nor of this e ement being in commumcationpipe 45 through a passage 68 in the bottom of the casing. A plston 69, hermetically attachedto the upper end of the element 67,

forms the top therefor and the sition of this piston Wlll be determined by t epressure beneath the same exerted by the condensing water. A snap switch, designated generally by reference character 71, is connected in the mainsu ply leads to the motor, and this switch, t irough a suitable telescopic link. 72, is connected with the piston 69. spring 7 3 will urge the piston into its downward position, as shown in Fig. 4, thereby actuating the switch to o enthe circuit when the pressure of the con ensin water lowers to a predetermined point.- ormally, however, the pis-.

tonwill be held in elevated position by the water pressure in the pipe 45, thereby main taining the throw-out switch 71 closed. An electric bell 74, or other signalling device, is preferably connected in the circuit so'that when the apparatus is stopped by the control device just described, this signal will announce the fact to the engineer.

' For Eur-poses of ecp'nomy, it is desirable to shut o the appa-ratuswhen the temperature in the refrigerating chamber 15 reaches a predetermined minimum, and to accomplish this result}, a thermostatic switch, designated,

generally y referencecharacter 75, Fi 1, is located in this chamber and connecte with the control box 64 in such manner that the motor supply circuit will be broken. when the temperature in the chamber drops to a predetermined point and will be automatically closed to start the motor again when the tern erature subsequently rises.

It is elieved that the construction, 0 eration and advantages of my invention Wlll be understood from the foregoin without fur ther description, and it should obvious that the structural details illustrated and de-.

scribed may be varied within wide limits,

without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims.

- I cla1m: l

1. In a refrigerating apparatus the combination-with a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator connected in series, of thermostat1c means for automatically controllm the condenser pressure and.means contro ed solely by condenser pressure for regulating the delivery of refrigerating medium to said evaporator.

2. In a refrigerating apparatus, the com- I bination with a condenser and an evaporator connected in a closed circuit, of means for automatically controlling the condenser pressure and means controlled solely b con denser pressure for regulating the de ivery of refrigerating medium to said eva orator.

\3. In a refrigeratin apparatus, t e combination with a close refrigerating circuit including a condenser" and an evaporator, of means controlled by condenser pressure. for

regulatin the delivery of refrigerating medium to t e evaporator, and means comprising a thermostatically actuated water control valve including an expansible sealing element for regulating the condenser temperature.

4. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a closed refrigerating circuit including a condenser and an evaporator, of means controlled by the pressure in the condenser for regulating the delivery of refrigcrating medium to the evaporator, a thermostatically controlled condensing water control valve for controlling the temperature in said condenser, and pressure actuated means for rendering said apparatus inoperative upon failure of condensing water. I

5. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a refrigerating circuit including a condenser, a compressor and an evap-' orator, of means controlled by the condenser pressure for regulating the delivery of refrigerating medium to the evaporator, a

thermostaticallyv controlled condensing water valve for automatically regulating the temperature and pressure in the condenser, means controlled by the pressure of the condensing water for-rendering said apparatus operative or inoperative, and thermostatic means controlled by the temperature inthe refrigerating chamber for starting and stopping said apparatus.

6. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a closed refrigerating circuit including a condenser and an evaporator, and means for supplying cooling water to the condenser, of means for automatically maintaining constant the temperature of the water flowing from the condenser, and means for regulating the How of the refrigerant within the circuit solely by the pressure of therefrigerant in the condenser.

Jus'rus c. GOOSMANN. 

